New Delhi: Delhi govt has issued a gazette notification to clarify and simplify the implementation of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act. This came in response to the Supreme Court raising questions about the new fee fixing framework.The notification requires all schools to set up a school-level fee regulation committee (SLFRC) within 10 days of the order being published. Committees already functioning under the previous notification will continue to be valid under the updated rules.
“The concern was how fees would be handled during the transition period. So, we accepted that and created a clear implementation path. For us, implementing the law was more important than letting it get derailed,” education minister Ashish Sood said. “Our gazette notification makes it clear that until the fees are approved by the school-level fee regulation committees, schools cannot implement the new rates, and any exorbitant hikes for 2025-26 will be regulated in accordance with the law. We brought this strict legislation to give relief to Delhi’s parents and children, and we will not allow any compromise with children’s interests,” Sood added.After the formation of the committee, school authorities are expected to submit a detailed fee proposal covering the next three academic years, starting 2026-27, within 14 days. The committee will then review the submission and finalise the fees according to the Act’s provisions. Additionally, the director of education (DoE) has been tasked with establishing district fee appellate committees (DFACs) within 30 days. The notification makes it clear that these revised deadlines apply only to the upcoming three-year fee block starting 2026-27. All subsequent fee blocks will follow the timelines set in the original Act and Rules.Regarding the transition between the fee cycles, the gazette specifies that once a three-year block ends, schools cannot increase fees beyond the previously fixed amount until the next block is approved. Any extra fee collected during this interim period must be adjusted later.To provide immediate relief to parents, schools are not allowed to charge more than the fees collected as of April 1, 2025, until the new structure for the next block is finalised. The notification also notes that any excessively high fees collected during the 2025-26 academic year will be subject to regulation, pending the final outcome of ongoing cases in Delhi High Court and Supreme Court.“If any school indulges in misconduct, it will be held accountable. If any school stops children from entering or violates the order, action will be taken,” Sood said.The development follows Supreme Court’s scrutiny of Delhi’s new fee law, with the apex court seeking explanations on committee structures, implementation safeguards, and protections against unilateral hikes.
